Chapter 24 Chapter 24 The Birth of Twins

Ieyasu, who returned to Hamamatsu from Nagashino Castle, smelled of hay and horse leather all over his body, and he didn't rest for a moment. After a long campaign he returned stronger than he should have been.From the day he arrived in Hamamatsu City, he began to inquire about the harvest in his collar. "This year will be a bumper harvest year." Everyone smiled happily. Of course, the Takeda Army also aimed at the good time for Ieyasu's expedition and pushed the troops to the Mori Township area, but in the end they did not act rashly.Maybe it's because Ieyasu left a group of brave warriors such as Osuga Goro Zaemon, Honda Zuzaemon, Honda Heihachi, and Kanbara Koheita to garrison the city, or maybe it's because of Ieyasu's dizzying and magical tactics , deliberately harassing the enemy's rear in Enshu, pretending to withdraw immediately to Hamamatsu Castle, but unexpectedly launched a general attack on Nagashino Castle, so that the enemy had no chance to take advantage of it. In short, when Nagashino Castle fell, Takeda's army moved slowly.

At this time, the young general Katsurai was extremely angry.The left-behind samurai Honda Zuzaemon once again thought that after Ieyasu returned to the city, he would immediately hold a banquet to celebrate the victory, so he prepared delicious food and wine in advance, but Ieyasu had no intention of giving wine at all. "My lord, if you don't give a banquet, the wine will turn sour." Zuo Zuo said while accompanying Ieyasu to inspect the city wall leading to the northeast. "Isn't that good?" Ieyasu replied softly, "It's better to make vinegar than let grass grow in the city."

Zuo Zuo's temper remained the same, and he refused to let it go. "Vinegar doesn't boost morale. Everything has its purpose." With that, he looked at Ieyasu with half-closed eyes, wondering how he would reprimand him. "Really? Then you should seriously prepare for each other." Ieyasu left a sentence that made Zuo Zuo puzzled, and left quickly. The lord became more and more... That night, Zuo Zuo rewarded all the soldiers with dirty wine in the name of Ieyasu.The city suddenly fell into a sea of ​​noise.Kodaira Taihe and Hachiro danced without hesitation in front of Ieyasu.

Ieyasu watched all this with a smile, but he didn't even touch the wine glass in front of him.Hiraiwa Nananosuke Kinkichi had already helped Okupira Sadano and his son withdraw from Takiyama from Kameyama Castle, defeated the pursuing Takeda Army, and returned to Hamamatsu Castle, where he was sitting in front of Ieyasu. "Nananosuke, go to Okazaki Castle tomorrow and tell Saburo that the real battle is yet to come." Ieyasu's voice was very gentle. Early the next morning, when Sakuzaemon was patrolling the city, he found Mrs. Ai in the inner court washing something with hot water.Seeing Zuo Zuo approaching, Ai suddenly flushed with shame.

"A grown-up's underwear, lice..." Zuo Zuo pretended not to hear, and walked straight over.He suddenly felt very funny.Jiakang didn't drink, but went to A'ai's place.Oops, he remembered that he hadn't told Jiakang Awan about the delivery. The sky was still clear in the morning, but after noon, the sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds.From Lake Hamana to the sea, lead-colored sea tides are surging, and the pine wind brings the coolness of autumn. "Sakuzuo, let's name the turrets in this area after you." During the day, Ieyasu was still wearing his battle uniform, which made people feel that war might start at any time.

So cautious... I thought to myself.This may not be to remind the soldiers not to relax their vigilance, but to spur themselves.Recently, Ieyasu's tone of reprimanding his retainers has also softened significantly. "Is Zuo Zuo's battle preparation so satisfying to the Lord?" "Yes, I cannot forget your hard work." "My lord." Seeing Ieyasu staring intently at the seventh military well, Zuo Zuo said behind his back, "I haven't told you about Mrs. Awan yet." "Oh. I heard that you hid Awan in Nakamura Yuansa's house, and you are about to give birth?"

"My lord, she has already given birth." Because Ieyasu's tone was very soft, Zuoyou also tried his best to keep calm. "Have given birth?" Ieyasu looked back at Zuo Zuo in surprise, "Is it a baby boy or a baby girl?" "Master, please sit down first. You have been very busy since you came back, so I haven't been able to report to you for a long time." Zuo Zuo wiped the stone bench behind the arrow warehouse. Ieyasu looked around and sat down: "Is it a boy or a girl?" "It's a baby boy..." "Baby boy?...As the left, if it's a boy baby, you have to be more careful."

"Be careful? Who should be careful?" "You're pretending to be confused again. You... I've vaguely heard about A'ai. Be careful." "Oh, my lord has already been to A'ai. It's really fast." "Don't be joking, Zuo Zuo—I think Zhu Shan is a dangerous woman." "Your words really surprised me!" "There are women in the world who want to love but cannot, and she is one of them." "Maybe." "Meeting each other will definitely make people feel uncomfortable; without a word of intimacy, but always full of resentment, this kind of woman cannot allow her husband to be better than herself. But if the husband and wife quarrel, the world will say that the man has lost his capacity, Men become impatient with the busyness of worldly affairs and wars."

"My lord! You mean, let me pass these words on to Mrs. Tsukiyama?" "No. I mean, be careful with a woman like her. Maybe we'd better raise that baby as a girl. Is it a boy?" Zuo nodded with a strange expression, "Yes. Two, a pair of men." Ieyasu frowned unexpectedly, and suddenly became serious: "Twins? Zuo Zuo..." "Yes. The two boys landed almost at the same time." "Oh, two..." "My lord, please welcome the two brothers into the city immediately, hold a banquet, and name them after the elder and younger." "Oh." Ieyasu tilted his head and sighed, "It's really troublesome. From the moment they were born... they were destined to suffer too much pain in this life."

"My lord, you don't really raise the two brothers as baby girls, do you. Zuo Zuo has doubts about this." "Doubts? Do you mean that I was too tolerant of Tsukiyama?" "Exactly." Zuo Zuo replied decisively, and then moved forward, "You said Mrs. Zhushan is a dangerous woman, but the one who turned Mrs. into such a woman is none other than you, my lord. This is My thoughts. At this time, there should be no more patience. As the saying goes: Give virtue, and get resentment. Alas! If you condone or tolerate her infinitely because she is competitive, or even because you hate her, you will have no choice but to Make her even more arrogant and crazier."

Ieyasu smiled wryly, and looked up at the cloudy sky. "You want me to be rough on her?" "Yes!" Zuo Zuo's tone became more urgent, "Indifference and forbearance can only make people more confused, and instead deepen the sins of both parties. It's better to simply order her, or simply find out what troubles she has, which is truly compassionate. " "Okay, okay." Ieyasu stopped turning left, as if lost in thought again.It's not that he doesn't understand the meaning of being left, but those in authority often can't act easily.During Ieyasu's time in Junfu, because he indulged Tsukiyama too much, it finally led to this terrible ending.At the beginning, he hated quarreling, but in the end, he had to tolerate Mrs. Tsukiyama for the rest of his life. Ieyasu remembered that in the heyday of the Imagawa Clan, he would always control himself and not reprimand his wife.Now it seems that he was wrong, forbearance made Zhushan more and more arrogant every time.As Zuo Zuo said, it is better to reprimand her from the beginning, and use thunder to bless her with a bodhisattva heart.But up to now, the gap between the two sides is too deep.Ieyasu has already heard from Ah Ai that Zuo Zuo hid Awan in Nakamura Yuan's home.He even thought that if he gave birth to a boy, he would temporarily raise him as a girl... The development of the matter was mocking Ieyasu's cautiousness. "Twins—boys..." Ieyasu said to himself, looking up at the flowing clouds in the sky. "My lord, the young master has two more brothers. I think you are very happy. If you tolerate and tolerate your wife, you will have endless troubles. You must make up your mind." Tsukuzaemon urged again.But Ieyasu didn't answer.It seems to be raining in the west.The mountains disappeared in the rain and fog, and crows could be heard from the end of the city wall from time to time. "Left." "Has your lord made up his mind?" "No, I think back then, and when I think of these children, they are so pitiful." "That's why I asked my lord to make a decision early." "It is said that when I was born, my mother, father, and retainers all silently prayed to the gods and Buddhas for my safe birth...but the two children were cursed...they were still twins." "Are you as confused as the world and think that twins are evil?" "No, I don't care. But Tsukiyama and the others will use this to curse them." "It's better to put one of them in foster care, and the other..." "Wait, Zaemon, don't worry." Ieyasu stopped Zaemon, and gently closed his eyes.The babies in his memory are only Agui and Xinkang. At this moment, two red faces like Xinkang suddenly appeared in front of his eyes. "Yes, Zuo, it's indeed unfair for me to treat Madam like that. But if she finds out that Awan has given birth to two boys, she will just roar like thunder. I don't want to see that kind of situation." "You still want to put up with her?" "Zuo Zuo, do you know what a woman who loses her mind will say? Can you guess it?" "No matter what she says, just ignore it." "Wait, earlier, Zhushan said that Awan was an extremely lewd woman who committed adultery with those villagers who picked shit. Now, she will definitely say that it is because of this that Awan gave birth to twins." Ieyasu no longer looked at the left, "In this way, wouldn't the two newborn children be miserable? They will also be revenged and assassinated by that crazy woman." Sakuzaemon was stunned and clicked his tongue.Ieyasu had already explained in enough detail that he could not accept Sakuzuo's suggestion. "Then it's up to you." Ieyasu closed his eyes and nodded slightly.Sakuzaemon silently waited for his instructions. "You said just now that you repay kindness with grievances, right?" "yes." "Then, let's do something even worse. Just say that during my expedition, she went to Gen Nakamura's house to give birth without my permission, which is extremely absurd." "My lord... are you talking about Mrs. Awan?" "Of course. You just say that my Jiakang doesn't recognize the child she gave birth to." Tsukuzu looked at Ieyasu in surprise, his face twitched, and he swallowed sharply.There is no need to ask any more, Zuo Zuo already understood the Lord's thoughts.He seemed to have a premonition of something wrong with the birth of twins.In the past year and a half, Ieyasu has hardly had time to stay in Hamamatsu Castle.Moreover, Awan is different from Aai. She is afraid of loneliness and likes to chat with others. She often greets the servants who come to the inner courtyard to weed and sweep the floor, and pours tea and water to the patrolling retainers.This seems a bit casual to Ieyasu. Considering that her behavior might not be in line with Jiakang's wishes, Zuo Zuo once reminded Ah Wan.Because of Awan's behavior, coupled with his fear of Mrs. Tsukiyama, Ieyasu was worried about his two newborn children. "My lord wants to abandon these two children?" "That's good for the kids." "My lord is jealous, self-willed, firm, and assertive." "Oh, what on earth are you trying to say, Zuo?" "Just talk about Mrs. Tsukiyama. From the moment she couldn't do what she wanted, she was disgusted and alienated. She didn't have the opportunity to express her apology, and it was even less likely to expect to regain your love. You don't think it's all kinds of The source of misfortune?" "Oh, this is my innate instinct." I didn't know when the rain began to drip, and the clear sky above the sea that was still clear just now appeared confused. "My lord! When the two children grow up, if they hear what the lord said today, what will they think?" Sakuzuo stared at Ieyasu closely, "What a curse while still in the womb, what poor children...these are all blatant lies. My lord! Tsukusa speaks so viciously, you don't even care? Do you think my words So to the point that you have nothing to say?" Ieyasu caught the rain with one hand and slowly stood up. "Zuo Zuo, go patrolling with me." "Can you go to Nakamura Gensa's house outside the city?" "Left!" "My lord." Zuo Zuo picked up the towel from the stone bench, with a look of remonstrance to the death.Thinking that Ieyasu might be suspicious of Awan, he felt that even for the sake of the two newborn children, he should risk his life to warn him. "Who should be sent to Changxiao?" "My lord, don't change the subject!" "I'm thinking about the children. I'm going to let Agui marry and let Oppingmei be a father and son stationed in Changxiao... What do you think?" As Ieyasu said, he looked back at Sakuzaemon who was still angry, "Don't be angry, Zuo. I am very happy to have such a good retainer like you. I understand what you said." The lord!I don't know when it started, he became... Honda Zuzaemon Shigeji thought over and over again, but finally didn't mention the child again. I don't know when it started, but Ieyasu no longer responded to Sakuzuo's opinions as before.What is wrong?Zuo thought about it, but Ieyasu calmly said "I have thought about it", which made him at a loss. Ieyasu babbled about the mountain of major issues, the matter of Nagashino Castle, the defenses of Okazaki and Yoshida Castles, the resistance of Nobunaga and the Takeda Army... while slowly inspecting the battle preparations in the castle in the drizzle until the sky darkened dim. Zuo Zuo thought that Ieyasu would definitely give instructions at the end, so he always followed him closely, but unexpectedly, the last thing Ieyasu left behind was: "Thank you." After saying this, he quietly entered the inner court. Sakuzaemon felt himself in a predicament.After all, he was the one who hid Awan at Yuan's house in Nakamura outside the city.Would the children have been born here safely if they hadn't moved out of town?He was extremely angry, but he couldn't figure out what Ieyasu was thinking.Can't stop there! At night, Zuo Zuo quietly mounted his horse and galloped out of the city.The newly born children naturally don't know anything, but Awan after giving birth, and Gen Nakamura who provided help, are undoubtedly waiting for the messenger sent by Ieyasu.On the left, Tsukuru galloped his horse towards Gen Nakamura's house, sighing continuously. The twins are seven days old and still unnamed.Even though Zuo Zuo was able to confess everything to Genzaemon, he couldn't tell Awan who was still in the delivery room. "I have to lie..." Those newborn children are indeed pitiful, but the pathetic messenger of himself is really unbearable. "Unexpectedly, there will be such a moment when I am a ghost." He said to himself, and when he reached the source In front of Zaemon's house. "Who?" someone shouted in the rain.Probably because Awan just gave birth to a baby boy, Genzaemon specially sent people to guard around the house. "Thanks for your hard work, I am Honda Zuo Zuo." "Ah, please come in quickly." Sakuzaemon entered the door and got off his horse.The courtyard was exceptionally bright, and a scent of fragrance wafted from it.Sakusa tried his best to control the great uneasiness in his heart, quickly tied the rein to the pillar, and said, "I'm here." The altar was set up in the delivery room, and Genzaemon, who was sitting in front of the altar, quickly stood up, "You Did you come here as an envoy, Master Zuo?" Sakuzaemon shook his head silently: "I came here by myself. Is there anyone's fault?" Genzaemon bowed his head and began to cry. "Is it the child, or Mrs. Awan?" "It was the baby that was born first." "What about the other one?" "Still..." Sakuzaemon frowned, and couldn't help sighing: "If I knew this, why should I mention twins?" "What did you say, Master Zuo?" "It's nothing. Let's pay homage to the child first." Zuo Zuo hurriedly stood up and knelt down in front of the small altar.The so-called altar is just a small table.The Nakamura family has been living on this land since Minamoto's younger brother, Fan Lai's seventh son, Zhengfan, served as acting officials.Therefore, there is a tall table at the front of the lobby.The dead baby was placed on it, covered with a white cloth.Although there were no instructions from the castle, he was the son of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the lord of Mikawa and Enjiang. "Saemon-sama, the body should be transported to the city immediately." Sakuzaemon didn't seem to hear at all, lit a stick of incense, and clasped his hands together. "They come from the same mother's womb. You must protect the living child." "Master Zuo." Sakuzaemon shook his hand, slowly approached the corpse, and quietly removed the white cloth covering the corpse.The lump of meat seemed to be still moving under the flickering light, laughing for a while, and sternly for a while.How would the lord feel if he saw this face?Zuo Zuo An hated that he shouldn't have told about the twins. The unpredictable life made him feel resentful.At this time, there was a sudden cry of wow. "Oh!" Tsukuru narrowed his eyes, "I'd better meet that child first, and then discuss the funeral with you. Is it inside?" Genzaemon nodded, and led the lamp to the left.It seems that the wind is blowing again, and the sound of the waves from Hamana Lake is so clear, as if it is under your feet. "It's urgent, and it's too late to build the delivery room, so I cleaned up the secluded room, and then—" Hearing what Genzaemon said, Zuaku said, "No, no, I've already troubled you." He looked at Wan's figure under the indoor light, and said, "Sakuzuo came to visit the child." "Ah, Zaemon-sama?" Awan's gentle and clear voice came from the room, "One is gone, and the other is still here." She struggled to raise her upper body, "What do you say? Surprised it was a boy... No, did he mean that one of the twins is weak so the other is strong, loud and mobile..." Zuo Zuo quickly waved his hand to stop her.Thinking of Ieyasu's cruel words, he felt a heavy heart. "Please let me meet the child first." Genzaemon's daughter, who had been serving Awan, held the child and handed it over. "Oh, this, this." Tsukuru said ambiguously, "As expected of..." The child was indeed bigger than the dead one, but he didn't feel strong, and he was not as big as the left child, Senchiyo, when he was born.Can he survive?Zuo Zuo didn't know whether to congratulate or worry. "Mrs. Awan, my lord is very happy to hear that the child was born. But you also know that considering Mrs. Zhushan, so... Ah, I think you understand." "Yes Yes." "So, my lord said not to disclose the news of the child's birth for the time being. This is for the safety of the child. In order to ensure that no accidents happen, you must hide your whereabouts. As for that... child, I will discuss it with the owner and send it to you temporarily. The spirit is here." "Ah, send the spirit here..." Tsukuzawa nodded and quickly turned his gaze to the baby in Genzaemon's daughter's arms. "I hope the child will have enough milk and thrive. Please take care and leave." Awan raised his hand and was about to say something more when Sakuzaemon had already stood up and walked towards the hall. Genzaemon followed behind with a candlestick in his hand, and asked cautiously, "Sir Saemon, what happened?" "Just as you heard, understand?" "So, what about the child's funeral?" "A baby, it's up to you and me—" "Oh. And what about the other kid's name?" "You can get one for him for now." "Master Zuo, do you think that the surviving children may not be able to..." "That's not..." "The villain understands. I understand!" Nakamura Genzaemon looked a little angry, and his voice became sharper, "The villain heard that twins will be cursed. Good! I, Genzaemon, will raise the children no matter what." "Genzuo, can you understand? Even though the lord is the guardian of Sanhe and Yuanjiang, he still can't get close to his children as he wants... Sigh!" After speaking, Tsukuru turned his head abruptly and bit his lip.